Field Report, Cory Chisel lead WAMI nominees

Milwaukee folk band Field Report and Appleton-bred Americana duo Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons lead the major nominations for the 33rd annual Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards, to be held April 14 at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. 4th St.

They're the only bands up for WAMIs in each of the top three categories: artist of the year, album of the year and song of the year. Field Report landed a record deal with Partisan Records and provided opening support for Counting Crows and Aimee Mann, while Sons traveled the world opening for Norah Jones and released an album on Brendan Benson's Readymade Records, co-founded by Hartland native Emily White.

In the WAMIs' big category, artist of the year, they will battle ex-BoDean Sam Llanas, Sub Pop act Jaill, SideOneDummy band Trapper Schoepp & the Shades, local rock group the Delta Routine and Madison's Lucas Cates Band.

Nominations were chosen from ballots submitted by members of WAMI, a volunteer organization that promotes Wisconsin music. The general public can submit votes for their favorite artist, radio station, music teacher and music venue through Friday at wamimusic.com .

WAMI will celebrate the nominees at a free public ceremony at 6 p.m. March 24 at Moct, 240 E. Pittsburgh Ave.

The April 14 awards ceremony will feature performances by local acts Klassik, the Squeezettes and De La Buena, plus four other bands from around the state. Tickets are $15 for students, $24.99 for general admission and $50 for a VIP package, available at the Pabst and Riverside theaters box offices, (414) 286-3663 and pabsttheater.org.

WAMI also will host a free, five-venue music festival in Milwaukee dubbed "Downtown Alive" on April 13. A schedule is forthcoming.